Nothing much here, except that Henrik Lundqvist had a decent explanation for his turnover against Chimera … he was at the edge of the trapezoid and couldn’t play the puck until it came to him. John Tortorella: [audio:http://lohud.com/audio/rangers/tortspost043012.MP3] Henrik Lundqvist: [audio:http://lohud.com/audio/rangers/lundqvist043012.MP3] Marc Staal: [audio:http://lohud.com/audio/rangers/staal043012.MP3] Ryan Callahan: [audio:http://lohud.com/audio/rangers/callahan043012.MP3]

Rangers-Capitals Game 2. I’m speculating, or taking an educated guess here, that Brian Boyle will play. Actually, it’s a little bit more than speculation or a guess. Unless Boyle isn’t feeling well this evening, or during or after warmups. That would mean that Steve Eminger comes out … unless he…

From the NHL: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / APRIL 30, 2012 HITCHCOCK, MacLEAN AND TORTORELLA NAMED JACK ADAMS AWARD FINALISTS NEW YORK (April 30, 2012) — Ken Hitchcock of the St. Louis Blues, Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators and John Tortorella of the New York Rangers are the three finalists…

Reminder: We’ll hold a Live Game 2 Chat today from MSG at 3 p.m. Stop what you’re doing, put down whatever you’re holding, wake up if you’re sleeping, call in sick if you’re working, and be there. Ya hear? Also, Happy Birthday to the new kid, Chris Kreider. He’s 21…

Just a heads-up. Those chats are getting so popular that we’re going to do a bunch more. We will do a Live Game 2 Chat from MSG tomorrow at 3 p.m., then we will do another one during the week live from Washington, District of Columbia or thereabouts. So tell…

The news: Brian Boyle skated during an optional practice, and said he felt better. Brandon Dubinsky did not skate and is on crutches, which doesn’t necessarily mean anything in terms of the severity of his injury. Remember that Ryan Callahan was on crutches between games when he was playing with…

Thoughts: 1) I don’t know why I always feel this way, maybe because I’ve seen so many series go this way, but I still expect it to be 1-1 after two games. 2) Game 1 probably didn’t seem as close as it really was, but it was. The Capitals didn’t…

Courtesy of the Rangers: NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 1 Madison Square Garden – New York, NY (NYR lead 1-0) Team Notes: – The Rangers opened their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Washington Capitals with a 3-1 win in Game 1 today at Madison Square…

Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh talk about renewing acquaintances with Alex Ovechkin. Brad Richards discusses the impact of Chris Kreider and what the Rangers tried to do against Caps goalie Braden Holtby. The interviews also include thoughts on the loss from Washington’s Mike Green — who was caught…

Rangers-Capitals Game 1. Here we go again. The predictions contest is now closed. No more entries, please. No idea who’s playing or who isn’t. Have to wait until warmups and still may not know until just prior to gametime. I imagine Stu Bickel would move up to the wing and…

Your boy Torts did a quick one, gave out no info, was away from the podium in 12 seconds, or 19 seconds from the time I started to the time I stopped recording. John Tortorella: [audio:http://lohud.com/audio/rangers/tortspre042812.MP3] Dale Hunter: [audio:http://lohud.com/audio/rangers/hunter042812.MP3]

Post your second-round predictions in this thread … see the first few comments in the previous thread for the rules and tiebreaking procedures before you enter. Entries close when “It’s Go Time!” is posted around 2:30 p.m. ******************************************** Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR: NEW YORK RANGERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS…

FORWARDS: This is obviously where the Capitals are most dangerous, and most confusing. Alex Ovechkin is coming off what is seen as a bad year (yet he scored 38 goals). He was benched at times in the Boston series. But he loves playing against the Rangers, especially at MSG, and…

The news: Brian Boyle practiced, but there’s no way of knowing if he will return for Game 1 or Game 2 or at all in this series. Depends on how he feels after his first post-concussion skate, and tomorrow, and as we’ve seen, going forward. Brandon Dubinsky, who injured an…

So we go from one nation’s capital to the other. (See previous post for the whole Conference Semifinals schedule — and p.s. to NBC, it’s not the Stanley Cup semifinals, OK?). Thoughts: 1) That was one great Game 7. Seriously, I thought ya boys played a great game, as I…

From the NHL: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / APRIL 26, 2012 2012 STANLEY CUP CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE NEW YORK (April 26, 2012) – The National Hockey League today announced the dates, starting times and television coverage for the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Semifinals, which begin Friday, April 27, when the…